GROTTOES, Va -- Bruce Webb is a proud veteran that now lives in Grottoes. His life changed after he came home from his last tour, so much that he thought about taking his own life. Now, he is beginning to recover, but it is not an easy journey.
“I deal with this on a daily basis," said Webb.
He is not an active soldier anymore, but he still feels like one.
"You're still in combat mode."
Webb served in the military for 33 years. He was sent back home wounded from Iraq in March 2010, but he says those wounds are not the most painful ones.
“There's a lot of thoughts that go through our mind. Will God forgive me? Number one for what I've done. I've lost my best friend or I lost all my guys."
Webb says when he returned he drank heavily, he lost his patience easily and he could not sleep.
“All of this is going on in your mind so much, that you don't wanna live with it no more."
In June 2010, Webb almost pulled the trigger at Skyline Drive.
"I was crying. I was in so much pain."
He said he drove to Elkton to say goodbye to his friend after arguing with his wife and that he was very drunk at the time.
"So I grabbed my bottle and my nine millimeter."
His friend stopped him and told him the next day about it. That was when he realized he needed to be treated for post-traumatic stress disorder.
"Hadn't I gotten help, I would've committed suicide."
He reached out to the Veteran Affairs Clinic in Staunton and he says he is now on medication and has Harley as his service dog. He also sees a counselor every week.
Webb said he has gotten better but he will never be entirely recovered.
"This wound stays with you the rest of your life."
Webb said many soldiers do not get help because they do not want PTSD to be on their military records.
If you would like help, we have a list of resources for coping with post-traumatic stress disorder here: Resources for Military, Veterans Coping with PTSD
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